Allo ‘Aloe from Zimbabwe..... When I first applied to join the miniature exchange I wondered if a twin would want someone from Zimbabwe, to many a pariah country. It turns out Alison actually knew people who had spent a few years working here which was a great introduction. From initial communication we found some common details, Alison sharing her name with my sister, the fact that we had almost identical cats as profile photos! While quilters are quilters worldwide my fascination is how different life, language and homes are between different countries. This was my inspiration in using a traditional block to form ethnic shaped Kraal houses, no mud walls or thatch roofs though! Then an interest of mine, local flora. A couple of aloe varieties, appliquéd on fabric printed from locally written articles, surround by flying geese.... representing the beautiful Fish Eagles of Zimbabwe with their haunting calls. While I really did want to use only local fabrics working in miniature scale did not work for large scale wax or Java print fabrics so more American fabrics crept in.....My appliqué flowers were actually carefully cut from hoarded Ricky Tims’ fabric bought at the IQC Africa 2013! This was a fun experience.